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"Isolated incidents" and "lack of control": Differences in opinions on arson attacks in the Los Lagos region
Various authorities in the Los Lagos region have commented on the arson attacks carried out in the area, which, although occurring less frequently compared to other regions, are increasingly being recorded further south. Some argue that these are isolated incidents, while others accuse a lack of control.
A total of 342 arson attacks associated with the conflict between the State and the Mapuche people have been quantified by the Association of Forestry Contractors (Acoforag), a figure recorded nationwide until 2014. Of these, only two have resulted in guilty verdicts, meaning less than 0.5%. A conflict they claim "escalated to Fresia due to lack of control."
Although the highest former authorities and representatives of the Los Lagos region indicate that few cases have been recorded in the area, they disagree on the actions of the Public Prosecutor's Office. While some say the investigation results leave them unsatisfied, others suggest removing the region from being considered part of the conflict.
Attacks recorded in the Los Lagos region
This is how the story of rural violence in the Los Lagos region begins. January 2018, New Year's Day: an arson attack on a forestry company in Río Negro, an abandoned stolen and burned vehicle in San Juan de la Costa, and days later in San Pablo, the burning of agricultural machinery.
Although several more were recorded during 2019, only about 10 cases have been counted from 2020 to date.
Among the most recent, one marked a turning point—the event of July 17, 2021, when the Arauco Malleco Coordinator (CAM) declared direct war on forestry companies and the Chilean State following the death of its member Pablo Marchant during an armed attack.
The next day, two more attacks were carried out in Río Negro, Osorno province. The first at 03:17 at the Fundo El Mirador, a forestry operation of Arauco, and the second at 10:00 in Popoén, targeting machinery of the company Huempeleo.
On December 24, this modus operandi crossed provincial borders, escalating to the southern part of the Los Lagos region, Fresia. Although its connection to land claims has not yet been determined, it marked the conflict's expansion.
The most recent attack was recorded on February 18 of this year at the Guacamapu property, owned by the forestry company Arauco.
Source:biobiochile.cl
